IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group

Group website

Group leadership

Dr Anna LOY

Born in Rome, MD and PhD at University of Rome 'Sapienza'. Co-Chair IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group

Ms Caroline LEUCHTENBERGER

Co-Chair

Caroline is a biologist, working with ecology and conservation. She got her Ph.D. at the Ecology program of the Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), in Manaus, Amazon state, and her Master’s in Ecology and Conservation at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul. For the past sixteen years, Caroline has been conducting research on giant otters in the Pantanal of Brazil, having published several articles, both technical and popular, that broaden the knowledge about this endangered species. Since 2013, she has been nominated by the IUCN as the Brazilian representative of giant otters in the Otter Specialist Group, of the Species Survival Commission. She is founder and coordinator of the Giant Otter Project. Currently she is professor at the Federal Institute Farroupilha and works as invited research collaborator at the Wildlife Laboratory at the EMBRAPA-Pantanal, and at the Bioacoustic Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN).

About our work

The Otter Specialist Group (OSG) is one of the oldest and largest specialist groups since 1973. Its goals include:

to provide leadership for the conservation of all 14 otter species
to determine, review and share the status, threats and needs of otters worldwide and update the IUCN Red List
to promote the wise management of otters in captivity through ongoing collaboration with zoos and the publication of updated studbooks and husbandry manuals
to present and promote the new research, conservation, education and management programs necessary to ensure the recovery of threatened and endangered otter populations
to train and mentor a new generation of otter researchers on an ongoing basis
to present and promote actions to curb the illegal trade and increase human-otter coexistence efforts
to organise workshops, congresses and webinars to ensure scientific alignment, and give the chance to early career researchers to participate
to increase scientific knowledge through publishing of peer-reviewed articles in the OSG Bulletin and other peer-reviewed journals.

Our mission

The aims of the IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group are to provide leadership for the conservation of all otter species (Lutrinae), determine and review on a continuing basis the status and needs of otters, and promote the implementation of necessary research, conservation and management programmes by appropriate individuals, organisations and governments, and make known the status and conservation needs of otters, promoting the wise management of otter species.

Supporting the Species Conservation

1
Human-Otter Coexistence in Singapore

2
Himalayan Otter Network
Mountainous parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China and Bhutan share similar natural environments and human lifestyles, and otters in these countries all face similar pressures from illegal trade, habitat pollution and poaching. The Network seeks to foster a partnership connecting conservationists and researchers across the Himalayan region in order to strengthen the protection of the three species of otters (Lutra lutra, Aonyx cinereus, and Lutrogale perspicillata) living in the rivers and wetlands of this spectacular landscape. The Network also aims to support communication among partners, facilitate collaboration, share information and best conservation practices, and create sustainable community partnerships to protect Himalayan otters.

3
Otter Conservation and Ecotourism in the Pantanal
The high density of jaguars and increasing tourism in the Pantanal create new challenges for otter conservation. Through the Giant Otter Project (Projeto Ariranhas), OSG supports research on human impact, predator interactions, and best ecotourism practices to ensure a balance between conservation and sustainable tourism.